- ⚠️ Daniella Gilboa, a former Hamas hostage, was reportedly forced to participate in a fake death video as part of a propaganda effort.
- 🎥 Hamas has a history of using staged hostage videos to manipulate global narratives and apply psychological pressure.
- 🧠 Experts describe such psychological warfare as emotional torture, impacting both hostages and their families.
- 🏛️ Israeli and international officials have condemned Hamas’ propaganda tactics, calling them violations of humanitarian law.
- 🚨 Former U.S. President Donald Trump set a deadline for February 15, 2025, demanding Hamas release all remaining hostages.
Former Hamas hostage Daniella Gilboa was reportedly forced to participate in a staged propaganda video where she was made to appear dead. This disturbing tactic reflects Hamas’ use of psychological warfare to manipulate public perception and apply pressure on Israel. Her case is not unique—many hostages have undergone similar mental and emotional abuse, highlighting the ethical and humanitarian violations embedded in such practices.
Who is Daniella Gilboa?
Daniella Gilboa is an Israeli soldier who was captured by Hamas during their October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. During the assault on an IDF base, militants took her hostage alongside dozens of others. She was shot in the leg during the attack, receiving no medical attention from her captors throughout her captivity. 
For over 15 months, she was held in Gaza, enduring psychological and emotional torment, until she was released as part of a hostage exchange on January 25, 2025.
Gilboa was one of four female hostages freed that day, alongside Liri Albag, Naama Levy, and Karina Ariev. Her resilience and survival in captivity led her father, Ran Gilboa, to describe her as a “hero who returned from hell.”
The Fake Death Video: A Propaganda Tactic
In a particularly disturbing revelation, Gilboa’s mother, Orly Gilboa, disclosed that Hamas forced Daniella to participate in a propaganda video staged to make the world believe she had been killed.
How Was the Video Staged?
Hamas allegedly:
- Covered Daniella in debris and powder to resemble a bombing victim.
- Filmed her as if she was lifeless, manipulating public perception of Israeli airstrikes.
- Released the footage in November 2024, presenting it as evidence that she had been killed by an Israeli attack on Gaza.
This deceptive maneuver was intended to:
- Incite international backlash against Israel for allegedly targeting hostages.
- Strengthen Hamas’ narrative, portraying Israel as indiscriminate in its military actions.
- Instill psychological distress in the families of missing hostages by making them believe their loved ones were dead.
The fabrication was only exposed when Gilboa was later released, proving that Hamas had deliberately spread misinformation.
Psychological Terror and Hamas’ Use of Hostage Videos
The use of hostage videos as psychological weapons is a longstanding strategy employed by Hamas. These videos serve multiple purposes, including:
- Weakening enemy morale by showcasing captives under duress.
- Gaining international sympathy by portraying Israel as the aggressor.
- Exerting leverage in negotiations, making hostages appear vulnerable or harmed.
A similarly manipulative video featured Yarden Bibas, an Israeli hostage, where he was filmed sobbing after being falsely informed that his entire family had been killed.
Hamas’ tactics are designed to break down the psychological resilience of hostages, while also causing anguish for their families. Many experts classify such actions as emotional torture, with severe long-term trauma for survivors.
Israeli Reactions and Military Response
Condemnation from Israeli Leadership
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled Hamas’ treatment of hostages as a “barbaric war crime” and vowed to increase military pressure to secure the release of remaining hostages.
- President Isaac Herzog called the emaciated condition of released hostages a “crime against humanity”, exposing their treatment in captivity.
- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) condemned Hamas’ staged videos, calling them an act of psychological warfare violating international human rights laws.
IDF’s Efforts to Free Hostages
Leading up to Gilboa’s release, the Israeli military intensified both negotiations and tactical operations aimed at securing all remaining captives. The hostage deal that freed Gilboa was part of a fragile ceasefire, which faced constant hurdles as Hamas delayed further releases.
Release and Aftermath of Daniella Gilboa
After over a year in captivity, Daniella Gilboa was finally freed. However, her release did not come without significant distress for her and her family.
The Final Days of Captivity
- Her captors only informed the hostages three days before their release, breaking routine to offer them slightly better food in their final hours.
- Her family went two days without knowing if she was alive, experiencing unimaginable anxiety before her release was confirmed.
- Upon release, her physical condition was dire, reflecting malnutrition and lack of medical care.
Her father, Ran Gilboa, later spoke publicly about her strength and resilience, calling her “a hero who endured unimaginable suffering.”
The Broader Hostage Crisis
Gilboa’s case is just one example of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, where the status of many captives remains uncertain.
Stalled Negotiations and Ongoing Captivity
- Hamas threatened to halt hostage releases, escalating tensions in ceasefire discussions.
- Israel faces the difficult choice of continuing military operations versus engaging in prolonged negotiations.
- Relatives of remaining hostages have protested, demanding stronger government action to secure their loved ones’ safe return.
The Role of International Pressure
Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a bold ultimatum, declaring:
- Hamas had until February 15, 2025, to release all remaining hostages, or
- Israel should resume full military operations without further negotiation.
U.S., United Nations officials, and humanitarian organizations have urged Hamas to comply, though their response remains uncertain.
Ethical and Humanitarian Implications
Psychological Impact on Hostages and Families
- Being forced to participate in propaganda videos can cause severe emotional damage, leaving survivors with lasting trauma.
- Families who see such staged videos often believe the worst, experiencing severe emotional distress.
- Survivors of such captivity frequently require years of psychological rehabilitation due to the extreme stress endured.
Violation of International Laws
Under the Geneva Conventions, hostage-taking and the use of captives as propaganda tools are considered serious human rights violations. Despite this, enforcing such laws in asymmetrical warfare remains challenging.
International Responses and Calls for Action
Global Condemnation of Hamas’ Actions
Human rights organizations and international bodies have labeled Hamas’ hostage treatment as:
- A violation of basic humanitarian principles.
- Psychological warfare prohibited under international law.
- An attack on human dignity that further escalates conflicts.
Demands for Immediate Hostage Releases
On February 15, 2025, Hamas reiterated that three additional Israeli hostages would be freed, though delays continue, leaving many families in anguish.
Daniella Gilboa’s nightmarish ordeal serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of war and the psychological gamesmanship of hostage situations. Her story, alongside multiple other hostages still in captivity, underscores the urgent need for international intervention. The conversation surrounding Hamas hostage tactics, ethical violations, and propaganda use must not fade, as countless captives still await rescue.
FAQs
Who is Daniella Gilboa, and how was she taken hostage?
Daniella Gilboa was an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, during an attack on an IDF base in southern Israel.
What details did her family reveal about her captivity?
Her family disclosed that for two days after her abduction, they did not know if she was alive and that she was shot in the leg but left untreated the entire time.
How was Gilboa allegedly forced to fake her death in a Hamas propaganda video?
According to her mother, her captors covered her in debris and powder and forced her to “play dead” for a staged video, falsely claiming she was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
What reactions have Israeli officials and the military given?
The IDF condemned the psychological tactics of Hamas, while Netanyahu and President Herzog denounced the treatment of hostages as a “crime against humanity.”
How does Hamas use hostage videos as psychological warfare?
Hamas has used fabricated hostage footage to manipulate public perception and inflict psychological trauma on both hostages and their families.
What are the broader ethical concerns surrounding hostage treatment in conflict zones?
Forcing hostages into propaganda videos violates humanitarian laws, raises ethical concerns, and can cause long-term psychological damage to the captives.
How does this incident compare to past cases of propaganda involving hostages?
Similar to Yarden Bibas’ case, where he was filmed reacting to false news of his family’s death, Gilboa’s staged video exposes the emotional and psychological cruelty behind Hamas’ tactics.
What is the current status of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange efforts?
Hamas has threatened to halt hostage releases, while President Trump demanded a final deadline of February 15, 2025, for all captives to be freed.
Citations
- Ynet. (2024, January 25). Ran Gilboa calls kidnapped daughter a hero after her release.
- Associated Press. (2024, February 15). Hamas to free more Israeli hostages on Saturday as originally planned.
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